We, the undersigned residents of the Town of Greenburgh, ask that you use the power vested in you by your elected office to amend New York State Village Law, Section 2-216 to provide equal voting rights under the law for residents of the Unincorporated Town of Greenburgh. 

The need to amend this law has come to our attention due to the recent efforts of a small segment of the community to petition to incorporate as a village within the town.  Should this small group be successful in their effort to incorporate the effects would be devastating to the remaining 40,000 residents of the community.  The loss of the Edgemont section tax contribution to our Town budget would necessitate severe cuts in services and programs and cause a large number of our neighbors to lose their jobs despite their many years of faithful service to our community.  As we are the residents who would be seriously injured by this incorporation, it is imperative that we have a vote in the matter. 

Voter suppression has always been and continues to be an attack on the basic human rights provided by the United States Constitution. NYS Village Law Section 2-216, as it is currently written, bars the overwhelming majority of residents of the Unincorporated Town of Greenburgh from voting in any incorporation referendum, without regard to the deep and permanent adverse financial and social effects incorporation would portend for our community.  We find this state of affairs to be absolutely unacceptable. 

As your constituents we need your immediate intervention to support the Town of Greenburgh Town Council in their request for a “Home Rule” Amendment of Section 2-216 of NYS Village Law.  You must provide the right to vote to all eligible voters residing in the Unincorporated Town of Greenburgh. Thank you for your support.